Switch



Patented Feb. 26, 1935 v Lacasse i PATENT OFFICE? Y.SWITCH Abraham S. Pinkus, New York, N.

Application May 22, 1933,` Serial No. 672,325

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches and has special reierencetoV that type of switchwhlch is used principally automobiles for establishing a circuit through thestarting motor of such vehicles.

Furthermore, the type of switch of the present invention is that in which a pair of studs are arranged in parallel and serve both as fixed contacts and as means for connecting sections of a conductor cable, the studs being in the path of a movable bridging contact.

In switches of this type the two studs above referred to are necessarily, because of limita- 'tions in space for installing the switch and'of manufacturing requirements, quite close together. There is thus danger of arcing or short circuiting between these studs or terminals and *there is also danger, when applying the conductors, of bringing a conductor terminal accidentally into contact with both studs. Devices have been used/to obviate these dangers by placing a wall of insulating material between the projecting ends of the studs. Such studs are held to the switch casingby nuts on the outside and a strip of insulating materialhas been usedto form `this wall by securing the Aends on the studs beneath the nuts and looping the center of the strip to extend between the studs. This arrangement is open to the objection that the fastened ends of the necessarily thin strip are exposed to injury and may break ofi'.

' One important object of the invention is to chored within the switch casing in a novel manner.

The movable contact in this type of switch com'- monly consists of a rigid bar of conductive material and, in order to ensure contact with both studs, such bars have been loosely mounted on their carrying plungers to allow them to adjust to proper stud contacting position. Such loose mounting is objectionable because of the tendency to wear and become too loose and for other reasons.

A second important object of the invention is to provide, in such a switch, a novel arrangement of movable contact immovably mounted on its plunger but highly flem'ble for proper contacting of the Xed contacts while its cross-sec-A tional area is ample to carry the amperage used without interfering with the iiexibility.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details oi construction and combinations of parts two parts of the casing'together.

hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawing and specically claimed.

In the `accompanying vdrawing like charactersV of reference indicate like parts in the 4several views, and,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a switch constructed in accordance with this invention with the upper part ofthe plunger and casing omitted.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of the switch.

Figure is a top plan view of the lower part or body of the casing and showing the iixed contacts therein;

Figure 4 isa bottom plan view of the upper part or cover of the casing and showing the movable contact,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the novel arrangement for forming aninsulating wall between the studs. Y

`Figure 6 is a view of the blank from which the interior insulation of the casing is formed.

Figure '7 is a detail section on the same plane as Figure 1 but showing a modied form of movable contact. y A

In the invention as here disclosed there is provideda two part casing having a` rectangular body 10 provided with a bottom andrside walls and having a substantially hexagonal securing liange 11 extending from the upper edges of said side walls. The uppervor cover part of this casing consists of a substantially ,hexagonal plate 12 rovided with a depending peripheral ange 13 so that the flange Y13 may nt around the edges of the fiange 11. Tabs 14 are provided on the iiange 13 which are rebent as in Figure 1 to secure the Onthe plate 12 is a tubular plunger housing 15.

within the `indy of the casing is intesa one-f piece insulating lining formed from a sheet of insulating material having a rectangular center portion 16 and side wall portions 17 (see Fig.` 6) dened frornthe center by fold lines' 18. These side Wall portions are bentup so as to form an open topped box which is tted in the body of the casing, aslshown in Figure 1. In the central part or bottom of this lining Vis formed a pair of stud holes 19 which register with a similar but slightly larger pair of stud holes 20 formed in the bottom ci the body 10. Threaded studs 21 extend through these stud holes and are provided interiorly of the casing with heads 22 which rest vagainst the insulation. On the projecting portion of each A strip of insulating material is doubled to form a loop or bight 25 and has its legs extending through the slot 24 and bent laterally to provide feet 26 which lie between the insulation 16 and the bottom of the casing. Thus the feet 26 are clamped by the action of the nuts 24 between the insulation 16 and casing bottom within ,the casing free from accidental injury, and the loop forms a wall between the outer ends of the studs. The usual binding nuts 27 and washers 28 are provided on these studs for securing cable ends.

Slidable through the top 12 centrally thereof is a plunger 29 preferably non-rotatable, urged to protruded position by a spring 3o. On this plunger is mounted a spring contact member 31 formed oi a plurality of thin plates or laminations and, as shown in Figure 1, the upper of said plates may have its ends curved down to brace the lower plates against too ready yielding. However, as shown in Figure 7 this upper plate may be omitted. The laminations are held between washers 32, and the end of the plunger is riveted over on Vthe lower washer to solidly secure the parts together. The plunger litself may be of insulating material or certain of the washers may be used to insulate the contact from the plunger. With a contact thus formed the movable contact member proper will readily yield to properly engage the fixed contacts while, at the same time,v it is immovably ixed to the plunger.

It will be noted that the laminations 31 are preferably made about .02 of an inch in thickness.

Furthermore, the upper lamination with its curved ends, as in Figure 1, is preferably made of stii brass, while the other laminations are preferably made of phosphor bronze. By reason of this construction, this stiff brass acts to reinforce and hold the phosphor bronze laminations.

It will also be noted that the one piece insulator, with its sides extending up alongside of the sides of the casing, acts to guide the movable contact properly into engagement with the fixed contacts. Furthermore, the insulator being in one piece and the holes V19 being iixedly spaced, the threaded xed contacts may be mounted in this insulator and then the pair of contacts assembled with the casing by slipping through their openings 20, thus enabling the assembling of the device to be rapidly done. Finally it will be seen by the manner in which this one piece insulating member bridges across the feet 26er the separator 25, that it acts efciently and positivelyv to clamp the feet in po- Y sition and also assists in the rapid assembling of scribed, but it is desired to include al1 such asV properly come within the scope claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switch of the kind described, a casing provided with a wall having a slotV therein, a pair of contact studs extending through said wall on opposite sides of the casing, an insulating separator extending through the slot between the projecting portions of the studs, and means within the casing anchoring said insulating separator in position. Y

2. In a switch of the kind described, a casing provided with a wall having a slot therein, a pair or" contact studs extending through said wall on opposite sides of the casing, an insulating separater extending through the slot between the projecting portions of the studs, flange means on said insulating separator within the casing and resting against said casing wall, and means'to clamp the Viiange means in position.

heads and engaging said flange means to clamp f the latter in position. Y Y

. 4. In a switch of the kind described, a casing provided with a wall having a slot therein, a pair of contact'studs extending through said wall on opposite sides of the slot, a `strip of insulation` doubled to form a loop extending between the projecting portions of the studs, the lends of the strip passing through the slot and extending laterally against said wall' toY form Vfeet, 'and means to anchor said feet in position against said Wall.

5. In a switch v`of the kind described, acaillg provided with a wall having a. slot therein, a pair of contact studs extending through said wall on opposite sides of the slot,l a stripv of insulation doubled to forma loop extending between the projecting portions vof the studs, the kends of the strip passingv throughthe slot and extending laterally yagainst said wall to form feet, and a clamping device engaging Vover said -feet and secured within thecasin'g.vr f j 6. In a switch of the kind described, a casing provided with a wall having a slot'therein, a pair of contact studs .extending through said A,wall on opposite sides of `the slot, a strip of vinsulation doubled to form a loop ,extending between the projecting portions of the studs, the ends of the strip passing through the Islot and ,extending laterally against said wall lto `for-lm feet, lsaid studs having heads within the casing, andan linsulating inem- ,ber engaged beneath Vsaid heads and ,extending over the feet to clamp 'the feet in position.

Beginnt s P1NKUS- 

